These news briefs are part of The Connecticut Mirror’s 2026 political coverage. For more news about the 2026 legislative session, campaigns, elections and more, sign up here for The Issue, the CT Mirror’s weekly politics newsletter. Gender-affirming care for kids Connecticut Children’s reached an agreement earlier this month with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve an ongoing investigation into the hospital’s gender-affirming care services for children. According to a DOJ release, the hospital has agreed to stop providing gender-affirming care to minors, including hormones and puberty blockers, and to dedicate $500,000 in medical care to people “living with the harmful consequences of ‘gender affirming care’.” A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed a resolution had been reached and that the hospital was able to resolve the matter without disclosing any protected patient information to the U.S. government.  — Katy Golvala, Health Reporter Blumenthal on Russia sanctions bill Speaking in front of a Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hartford, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal celebrated the Senate’s recent passage of his bipartisan bill to ramp up economic pressure on Russia and its oil and natural gas exports. The focus now shifts to the House, which introduced the bill earlier this week. Blumenthal, who said he’d make a return trip to Ukraine soon, said there’s “powerful momentum going forward because of the overwhelming bipartisan support.” Timing is uncertain, and Congress doesn’t return until September. But Blumenthal said he’s “very hopeful that it will be imminent,” noting support from GOP leadership and the White House.  — Lisa Hagen, Federal Policy Reporter HUD funding A Rhode Island judge ruled Monday that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development must continue to fund programs that provide housing for formerly homeless people. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong was part of a multistate lawsuit that challenged an order from HUD saying more funding had to go toward other housing programs, rather than the permanent, supportive housing it has historically supported. This funding shift could have left thousands without a way to pay rent. The ruling follows a previous attempt to cap money spent on permanent housing that a court struck down earlier this summer.  — Ginny Monk, Investigative Reporter CT’s sports betting rules for Kalshi Kalshi was dealt a blow this week after a federal judge denied the platform’s request for a preliminary injunction in Connecticut, ruling that its sports betting markets can be regulated by the state. Kalshi sued the state Department of Consumer Protection in December after the agency sent a cease and desist letter to several companies operating sports betting through their online prediction markets, including Kalshi, Robinhood and Crypto.com. The prediction markets say they should only be regulated by the federal government. States counter that the markets should be subject to state regulations. Earlier this month, Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon included a report warning of the markets’ “dark side” in his agency’s monthly economic update.  — P.R. Lockhart, Economic Development Reporter CSCU may expand in-state tuition to MA, RI The governing body for Connecticut State Colleges and Universities is considering allowing more New England students to receive in-state tuition throughout the system, a move some members say could help the schools stay competitive as colleges across the country work to reverse enrollment declines. On Wednesday, the Board of Regents’ Finance and Infrastructure Committee discussed a proposal to expand discounted tuition to students from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The change would be implemented in the 2027-28 academic year. During the meeting, some speakers said the change would benefit some schools in the system far more than others. Still, the proposal was advanced. The full Board of Regents is expected to discuss the matter at an upcoming meeting. — P.R. Lockhart, Economic Development Reporter CEO-worker pay gap in CT While the gap between CEO and worker pay is widening in many states, Connecticut is something of an exception, according to a new report. In its annual Executive Paywatch report, the AFL-CIO found that nationally, the gap between average CEO and median worker pay at SP 500 companies increased from a 285:1 ratio in 2024 to a 312:1 ratio in 2025. In Connecticut, however, the gap narrowed slightly, falling from a 334:1 ratio in 2024 to a 300:1 ratio last year. The reduction is due to two factors: a decrease in the average SP 500 CEO pay (from $19.5 million to $17.9 million) and an increase in median workers’ annual pay (from $58,400 to $59,690). — P.R. Lockhart, Economic Development Reporter CT launches Sales-Tax-Free Week Connecticut will sponsor its 27th annual Sales-Tax-Free Week starting Sunday and running through Saturday, Aug. 21. This year’s promotion, which waives sales tax on all clothing and footwear items costing $300 or less, also is complemented by a new, ongoing sales tax exemption on non-electronic school supplies, such as pens, markers and notebooks — regardless of price. The week-long tax holiday is expected to save shoppers $6 million, according to Department of Revenue Services Commissioner Mark Boughton, who added that the ongoing exemption for school supplies — which began July 1 — likely will save consumers another $6 million over the fiscal year. With new federal tariffs and higher fuel prices creating a chaotic year, the sales tax promotion also is crucial for businesses, said Timothy Phelan, president of the Connecticut Retail Merchants Association. Further information about the sales tax holiday and the school supplies exemption can be found on the department’s website. — Keith Phaneuf, State Budget Reporter Storm changes Fazio’s plans Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Fazio was forced to move a planned campaign event Thursday evening after the original venue, the carousel pavilion in New Haven’s Lighthouse Point Park, was heavily damaged in a storm. The overnight storm produced wind gusts recorded at 103 mph at Lighthouse Point, according to NBC Connecticut Chief Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan. The damage to the pavilion forced the city to close the park “indefinitely.” Fazio, who was unopposed in Tuesday’s GOP primary, had been scheduled to host an event focused on “Connecticut’s Future” at the pavilion Thursday evening. Instead, he posted on social media that the event would be held at the Silver Sands Beach Club in East Haven. “It was just horrendous,” Fazio said. “I’m really hoping the building and the carousel can be repaired.”  — John Moritz, Energy and Environment Reporter ...read more read less